Jenifer Lewis: Walking In My Joy
Hope you enjoy my visit with the dynamic star of ABC-TV’s Blackish and her new Showtime series, I Love That for You, Jenifer Lewis!
Listen and be inspired by her love of life, overcoming personal challenges to become a major star in the world of comedy, television, movies, animation and Broadway.
In this episode, Jenifer shares..
-The moment, as a 5-year-old she knew what she wanted to do for the rest of her life
-How she has overcome the challenge of being bipolar
-Excerpts from her new book, “Walking in My Joy,” the story of “what happened to that woman who said, ‘I don’t want to be depressed anymore!'”
-Why she believes that money doesn’t make life easy
-The call she got from “Blackish” producer, Kenya Barris, to star in her new ABC spin-off series, “Oldish”
-What makes her want to get up every morning
-Her beautiful secret of life
About Jenifer Lewis
Jenifer Lewis considers herself 25 percent show business and 75 percent activist. She has successfully combined her art with her passion for social justice throughout a career spanning more than 500 appearances in film and television, a best-selling memoir, and numerous critically acclaimed one-woman shows.
Dubbed a ânational treasureâ by TVGuide.com, Jenifer currently stars on the Emmy-nominated hit show âBlack-ishâ as the outspoken grandmother âRuby.â
Critics have hailed Jeniferâs memoir, The Mother of Black Hollywood, as âriveting,â âaudacious,â and âhonest.â The audiobook version, narrated by Jenifer, reached number one on Amazon.
Jenifer is a social media sensation. Her viral hits include a string of political songs, including âAll Hands on Deck! Get Your Knee off My Neck!â; âGet Your Ass Out and Vote!â; âFlint Ainât Fixedâ; âOur Children Shouldnât Have to Run from Bulletsâ; and âIn These Streetsâ with Brandy and Roz Ryan.
Jenifer delivered legendary performances as Tina Turner’s mother in âWhatâs Love Got to Do With Itâ and in âThe Preacher’s Wifeâ as the mother of Whitney Houstonâs character. Jenifer starred opposite Matt Damon in Clint Eastwood’s âHereafterâ and for director Tyler Perry, Jenifer created unforgettable characters in âMadea’s Family Reunionâ and âMeet the Browns.â In the movie âCastaway,â Jenifer portrayed Tom Hanks’ boss.
In animated films, Jeniferâs unique voice is adored by Disney fans in roles such as Flo in the âCarsâ series and as Mama Odie in âThe Princess and the Frog.â In her newest Disney role, Jenifer is the voice of Professor Granville in the âBig Hero 6â television series.
Jenifer’s TV roles have ranged from regular appearances as Aunt Helen on âThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airâ to guest star roles on âFriends,â âMurphy Brown,â and âGirlfriends.â For six seasons, Jenifer portrayed Lana Hawkins on Lifetime’s hit series âStrong Medicine.â
Jenifer has enjoyed a wide-ranging and varied career in music and theater. She has performed in four Broadway shows, including âHairspray,â in the role of Motormouth Mabel. At Carnegie Hall she received an electrifying standing ovation singing with the New York Pops orchestra. Last year Jenifer took the stage at Lincoln Center for its American Songbook series. All told, Jenifer has presented more than 200 concerts, performing in 48 states and five continents.
Jenifer holds an honorary doctorate from her alma mater, Webster University in St. Louis.
Official site: https://JeniferLewis.com
https://www.facebook.com/JeniferLewisForReal/
Twitter: @JeniferLewis
Instagram: @JeniferLewisforreal